Skating rink speakers... VOTT?

[janikphoto]

These hung in an old skating rink. Anyone want to speculate what's inside?

 

[Tom Brennan]

Anyone want to speculate what's inside?

There were so many loadings speculation would be idle.

 

[Sam Cogley]

The horn is definitely Altec. Cabinets look homebrew.

 

[gdmoore28]

That's an Altec 416/515/803 style woofer and an Altec 511B horn. I'll bet the horn drivers are 802Ds. No telling what the crossovers are. Probably Altec N501. Looks like somebody sourced the components from an Altec A7 cab and transplanted them into somebody else's idea for a cab. If they work ok, that's a good start on a heritage style home system.

 

[bowtie427ss]

Sam, i blew up the pic. The sloped horn panel is dadoed into the side panels. I'm not saying they are one or the other, but that's a pretty involved process for the average DIYer to get results like what is shown.

Janik, wear a dust mask around those things til you get the layers of dust(human dander) off them.

GDM, i want to see a vented dustcap too, but, i'm just not sure.

 

[Sam Cogley]

It looks like the horn flare boards are flat, not curved, and the fit of the blocking boards is a bit sloppy. Maybe not "DIY," but I doubt those are Altec cabinets. Maybe something cooked up by a local cabinet shop.

 

[gdmoore28]

Sam, i blew up the pic. The sloped horn panel is dadoed into the side panels. I'm not saying they are one or the other, but that's a pretty involved process for the average DIYer to get results like what is shown.

Janik, wear a dust mask around those things til you get the layers of dust(human dander) off them.

GDM, i want to see a vented dustcap too, but, i'm just not sure.

Yeah, on my monitor the vented dust cap is really clear. You're the REAL expert, though, so I'll go with your opinion any time!

And I agree, that cab construction is better than you'd see in the average homebuild. So leaves open the possibility that a cabinet shop made it according to some plans, OR it may be a cab from some other manufacturer.

I couldn't help jumping in here because I love these detective posts, and Altec and University are the only two brands I know didly-squat about. Hope the OP gets a chance to show us the insides of the cabs. I'm dying to know what the real story is.

 

[Tom Brennan]

I've seen stock 825 cabinets modified for use when flipped 90 degrees. It's not that big a deal.

 

[bowtie427ss]

Sam, i can clearly see the radius.I had to blow the pic up and live with it for a bit. Finally it sunk in, the screen in front of the woofer has been stapled to the horn flares several inches forward of the motorboard/throat. That screen really makes the image difficult to interpret.................................... unless you look at 828 cabinets every day. However, i think these were early 825 cabinets with vertical ports.

 

[bowtie427ss]

I couldn't help jumping in here because I love these detective posts

Adjust your aspect scale, that's an 811 horn.

 

[gdmoore28]

Yep, you guys nailed it. It took me, a rank amateur, a long time to make out the details, but I see it now. Good eyes, guys.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Sam, i can clearly see the radius.I had to blow the pic up and live with it for a bit. Finally it sunk in, the screen in front of the woofer has been stapled to the horn flares several inches forward of the motorboard/throat. That screen really makes the image difficult to interpret.................................... unless you look at 828 cabinets every day. However, i think these were early 825 cabinets with vertical ports.

I'm having trouble seeing any curvature, but I defer to your expertise.

 

[janikphoto]

Yeah, I didn't see a curved baffle, but I looked on my phone. I should get access to these in person soon. I'll let you know what I find!

 

[VolvoHeretic]

Those look exactly like my plywood 825's including the rabbeted top and bottom panels where the sides fit and the dado in the side panel where the sloped horn floor fits. I will bet that they are also built out of 3/4" plywood. Everyone says that they are third party built cabinets and are very well built. I would also wager that the 3/4" is smooth finish sign board plywood.

Mine came with no-label 8ohm components

 

[janikphoto]

I was sent another pic last night. It was a close-up of the VOTT sticker on the side. Looks to be a very old version of the sticker, which would make sense... this rink was opened in the 50's or early 60's.

 

[janikphoto]

Here it is..

 

[toxcrusadr]

So, are you gonna snag em?

 

[janikphoto]

So, are you gonna snag em?

If I can afford a pair, yes. I'm trying to arrange a deal.

 

[janikphoto]

I finally got to see these speakers today. I found out that two of the eight had some sort of repair done, and I don't know if these pics are from the original or repaired pair. But, here's what I saw tonight...

 

[janikphoto]

Another shot...